Offering the three Witr rak’ahs in separate parts
Question: Is it correct to pray Witr by offering two rak’ahs, then giving the salam, and then praying one rak’ah separately? And is this proven from the Sunnah?
Answer: Offering the three rak’ahs of Witr in such a way that one prays two, gives the salam, and then performs one rak’ah separately is entirely correct and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and the verbal and practical ahadith of the Prophet ﷺ support it.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the night prayer, and he ﷺ said:
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى فاذا خشي يا احدكم الصبح صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلي
“The night prayer is two by two. When one of you fears the morning, he should pray one rak’ah, which will make the prayer he has offered an odd (Witr).”
It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي من الليل احدى عشرة ركعة واحدة فاذا فرغ منها اضطجع على شقه الايمن
“Indeed the Prophet ﷺ would pray eleven rak’ahs at night, of which he would perform one rak’ah as Witr. When he finished from it, he would lie down on his right side.”
Anas bin Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him, says that he said to Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both: “Tell me about the two rak’ahs before the morning prayer; we recite long recitation in them?” So he said:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي من الليل مثني مثني ويوتر بركعة ويصلي ركعتين قبل صلاة الغداة
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray two by two at night and would perform one rak’ah as Witr, and would pray two rak’ahs before the morning prayer.”
And in the lengthy hadith of Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, there is also mention of one rak’ah of Witr.
From these verbal and practical ahadith it becomes clear that the constant practice of the Prophet ﷺ was to pray two rak’ahs at a time at night, and then at the end to perform one rak’ah as Witr; therefore this form appears to be the preferable one.
It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يؤتر بركعة وكان يتكلم بين الركعتين والركعة
Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, has declared this narration sahih according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
“Indeed the Prophet ﷺ would perform one rak’ah as Witr, and would speak between the two rak’ahs and the single rak’ah.”
In another narration, these words occur:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي فى كل ثنتين ويوتر بواحدة
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would give the salam after every two rak’ahs, and would perform one rak’ah as Witr.”
Regarding this narration, Allama Busiri says:
هٰذَا اِسْنَادٌ صَحِيْحَةٌ رِجَالُهُ ثِقَاتٌ
“This chain is sahih, its narrators are trustworthy.”
It is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يفصل بين الوتر والشفع بتسليمة ويسمعناها
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, has described its chain as strong.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would separate the Witr and the even number by means of the salam, and he would make us hear the salam.”
It is narrated from Nafi’, may Allah have mercy on him:
ان عبدالله بن عمر كان يسلم بين الركعة والركعتين فى الوتر حتٰي يأمر ببعض حاجته
“Indeed Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, would give the salam between one and two rak’ahs of Witr, to the extent that he would instruct someone regarding some need of his.”
It is narrated from Bakr bin Abdullah al-Muzani, may Allah have mercy on him:
ان ابن عمر صلٰي ركعتين ثم سلم ثم قال ادخلوا الي ناقتي فلانة ثم قام فاوتر بركعة
“Indeed Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, prayed two rak’ahs, then gave the salam, then said: ‘Bring me my such-and-such she-camel.’ Then he stood up and performed one rak’ah as Witr.”
Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, says regarding this narration:
هٰذَا اِسْنَادٌ صَحِيْحٌ
“This chain is sahih.”
Imam Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated through the route of Sa’id bin Mansur that Bakr bin Abdullah al-Muzani said:
صلى ابن عمر ركعتين ثم قال يا غلام ! ارحل لنا ثم قام فاوتر بركعة
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Sa’id bin Mansur has narrated it with a sahih chain.”
“Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, prayed two rak’ahs, then said: ‘O boy! Bring our mount.’ Then he stood up and performed one rak’ah as Witr.”
From the above details it is known that offering three Witr in such a way that one prays two, gives the salam, and then performs one rak’ah is entirely correct and proper.
Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقد صح وترالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بثلاث عشرة و احدي عشرة و تسع و سبع و خمس وثلاث وواحدة واصحها وتره صلى الله عليه وسلم بركعة واحدة
“From the Prophet ﷺ, Witr of thirteen, eleven, nine, seven, five, three and one rak’ahs are established, and the most authentic of them is the Prophet ﷺ’s performing Witr with one rak’ah.”
In sum, it has become clear from the sahih ahadith that performing one rak’ah of Witr separately is entirely correct and proper; it is established by the verbal and practical ahadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and to criticise it is tantamount to criticising the sahih ahadith and the Companions, and to deny it is nothing but ignorance.
